'Our role is integral to football's future' - newly appointed regulator David Kogan
The Championship club's current difficulties represent a a "major concern" and the new football authority is seeking powers to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporter groups associated with the South Yorkshire club recently.
The football club have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in the current year, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for English football and this week we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May caused limitations by the football authorities in summer, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a community organization that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for causes separate from the followers."
When asked if the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against the team's chairman this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the authority recently and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an economic entity of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the political party in recent years.
The 68-year-old donated money to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
